PROFESSIONAL SERVICES The public services specialists
Our sector expertise
We like to partner with purpose-driven organisations that have community and public service at their heart. Organisations like yours.
Having worked with leaders in the public services sector for many years now, we have built up an impressive global portfolio of clients at the forefront of the public services industry, including Serco and Capita.
We understand the complexities of your business needs, aspirations and challenges. Whether you hold private or government contracts, work across healthcare, education, justice, defence, or citizen services, our expertise lies in learning, guiding, creating and evolving with our clients. We provide solutions to your challenges to help you meet your goals, so that you can get on with what you do best - providing excellent quality services across not only the nation but the world over.
Highlights
-
653% increase
in conversions for Capita's paid media campaign
-
500+
contracts held by our clients across the public sector
-
4
of the world's continents covered by our clients
We understand your industry and its challenges
Digital transformation
Over the next few years, the public sector will face a shift towards moving many services online. As a result, the industry needs to be prepared for a complete digital transformation and ensure that infrastructure and ecosystems are in place to continue to service your clients and customers in the best way possible. However, it's equally important that firms ensure that their online and offline plans are cohesive and follow the same overall strategy in order to meet business goals.
Highly dispersed workforce
Providing the various solutions and connections between government and citizen or business and customer can be very specific. With many government contracts, management and activity are spread throughout various departments, involving many different people in different roles, at different distances to the front line, often resulting in a highly dispersed workforce. The challenge comes when different teams handling different contracts end up working in silo, resulting in inconsistencies across quality, service, brand, messaging, marketing, reputation and more. It's a juggle that we understand.
Changes to accessibility requirements
With accessibility needing to be front of mind for the industry, it's important to be aware of W3C standards by conforming to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG). However, change is coming and new guidelines for WCAG 3.0 are on the horizon. Even though this doesn't deprecate WCAG 2.2, it will be the new standard for accessibility and building compliant websites from a point of empathy.
Cyber security
Working closely with government bodies, and with the world becoming increasingly digital-led, it's imperative that the public services industry is exemplary in all things cyber security, ensuring any vulnerabilities that could lead to accessing networks, data and confidential information are mitigated if not wholly eliminated.
Lack of capacity
As an industry, we understand that public services have struggled with a lack of capacity due to minimal funding being available. This has been further exacerbated by the pandemic (sorry to bring that up again!) and the cost of living crisis. The consequence? An overworked workforce whose morale may be low. We understand that your workforce is the lifeblood of your business, so creating a culture where they feel supported and heard is important.
Poor brand perception
Contracted by governments on tight budgets whilst providing vital services to potentially millions of members of the public is no easy feat and doesn't always leave glowing 5-star reviews. As well as dealing with EVP and striving for a positive culture within your team, there is also the issue of recruiting, as well as satisfying the end customer - the public. External brand perception can often be a struggle so it's vital to put in the effort with your brand in order to maintain a positive stance.
Pressure on procurement
Rising inflation and high interest rates are resulting in limited budgets and resources, putting an increasing amount of pressure on procurement teams. Internal systems and processes which have not yet been streamlined or automated will in turn be adding to this burden. Procurement activities must operate within the confines of specific frameworks, strong moral judgement and tight budgets while trying to reduce cost and increase efficiency.
Serco
We are proud to partner with Serco plc as their brand guardians across numerous departments, looking after their brand, digital, and marketing projects. From their annual ESG and People Report to their brand guidelines, websites and internal code of conduct, mycode, it's safe to say we touch most aspects of their business.
Solutions provided:
- Brand identity
- UX & UI design
- Website development
- Video & Animation
- Data & Insight
- Design & Illustration
We'd love to hear from you
We know your customers
As well as the day-to-day running of your team and your overall business strategy and objectives lies the beating heart of why you do what you do; the desire to deliver top-quality public services, helping to keep our country running at its best across health, education, sanitary, security industries and so much more.
We understand that your customers are your priority and that providing them with the best possible service is paramount. Our years of experience and, of course, finger-on-the-pulse industry insights, means that we truly understand your customer and their needs. And more often than not, it's not because our clients have told us, it's because the customer has - through our many surveys, interviews and focus groups.
Capita
From producing campaigns such as Curious Capita and supporting TED talks to ongoing support for their vision2learn division on their PPC, we are proud to have a long-standing relationship with Capita and their global team.
Solutions provided:
- Digital strategy
- Paid media (PPC)
- Converstion rate optimisation (CRO)
- Social media marketing
How we can help you succeed and fulfill your ambition
We know that as an industry you serve not only your local communities, but help keep our country's public services running, so it's important to work with an agency that understands this.
We help public services organisations by understanding their aspirations and providing solutions to many of the challenges highlighted, through brand, digital and marketing. But we're not just talking pretty pictures. Although we do have exceptionally talented designers.
We're talking about how we can help automate and put systems in place to ease your team's workflows and more. Or how we can reduce the demand on customer call centres through technical solutions. Or help drive internal culture and EVP. Or work with you to tell your story and improve brand awareness and reputation, thus helping you with your recruitment efforts and winning contracts...
And while we can't single-handedly solve climate change or social mobility (although we are hoping to achieve B Corp certification this year!), we know how much pressure the public services industry is under. With an ever-changing landscape and the need to constantly evolve your digital and internal efficiencies, while remaining target and budget-focused, we're here to support you and help you succeed.
Who else we work with
Working with public services has been part of our story here at The Escape for many years. We understand your business challenges, motivations and aspirations. And just as importantly, we understand your team and your end-users; your teachers, your prison officers, your healthcare providers...
But, aghast, we also work with other sectors. As the trusted partner for many other household names, we're in the strong position of using our experience, data and knowledge to cross-pollinate strategies and ideas regardless of industry. Working with a specialist never means copy and paste.
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Let's talk
- Call us +44 (0) 1256 334567
If you would like to find out more about how we can help you connect strategically, creatively or digitally, then call us or get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.